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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ankh-Morpork Guard" data-source="post: 1832731" data-attributes="member: 10079">Chapter 29: Swamps, Tails, and PrincessesThe Garek system was one of the many uninhabitable places in the galaxy. The double star at the center of the system orbited dangerous close to itself, and would likely destroy itself within the next few thousand years. The readings on the shuttle’s sensors showed that if any of the planets were remotely close to sustaining life, it was the fifth planet in the system. Akan wanted to argue with the computer, as Garek V looked like a large pile of green mush placed together in a sphere. Part of him was sure he could smell the place even from orbit.    “Covered in swamps,” Jen confirmed his suspicions as she looked over another of the sensor screens, then down to the planet below.    Voort was sitting behind them, though Akan had an eye on him at all times. As Akan brought the ship down through the atmosphere(which was as thick as the swamps below), he found himself looking around with a sigh, “Can you scan for anything remotely solid to set down on?”    Jen had started to comply, but when the viewport cleared, Voort pointed to a place off in the distance, “There.”    Akan looked. Jen looked. They continued looking. Then, they looked to each other. Gaining no new knowledge, they both turned back to Voort. He pointed again, “There’s a patch in the trees there.”    Oh, wonderful, the man could see solid ground through mush. This just got better by the minute. However, Akan didn’t argue, and the shuttle flew towards the spot. As they got closer, Jen scanned it and found that yes, Voort was right. Also, not too far off was something metal. No too far off in the terms of the sensor was kilometers. This meant a nice long trudge through the swamps to get there.    They set down on the small section between trees, vines, and other things that Akan worried about. Voort and Jen left to get their equipment, and Akan finished powering down the shuttle. A vine suddenly fell on the viewport. Akan jumped and nearly yelped in surprise. Composing himself, he tilted forward and looked up to see movement in the trees. He glared and grumbled, “Just bought it and the natives are already putting dents in it.”    He sighed and got up, finding the two others talking about something he had no interest in. Akan simply got the boarding ramp down, and nearly gagged at the smell. Voort and Jen seemed to notice it was bad, but didn’t seem to have it as bad as he did. Wonderful thing these Alraxian noses were. He and Voort started down the ramp at about the same time, and as Akan looked down at the mucky ground below, he sighed again, “Look, I’m just getting my friend out and leaving. If you want off, you leave when we leave. Understand?”    Voort raised an eyebrow as his foot tested the soft, but still supportive moss covered ground, “Selfish for a Jedi. However, I understand.”    Then, the man started leading the way through knee high swamp gunk. Jen gave Akan a weary look and Akan returned it, trying to keep his tail above the water but finding it strangely difficult. Soon he just gave up and decided to worry about getting that stuff out of his tail fur later. They were all very glad to have long and fairly heavy trousers and boots on, as it kept the actual swamp off of them. Instead, they just felt the heavy weight of it all far too close to their skin.    “Well, if this doesn’t keep visitors out, I don’t know what would,” Jen commented. There was no grin on her face, and it was apparent she was being very serious. Akan could only nod as they continued the long walk. It was uneventful except for an incident where Akan swore something bit his tail. He had screamed like a child(which, after some reminding, he technically was) and the rest of the walk through the ‘water’ he was holding his tail in his hands. It was a strange sight to see Voort laugh at that, especially since Akan was still expecting the man to turn and murder him in a second. The uneasy truce was still just as uneasy before, both of them simply kept it hidden. Voort was better at this than Akan. Much better.    Slowly, the water level lowered and the land rose. Akan didn’t give a look to his trousers, not wanting to see the colour or any live things still attached. As they got to more ‘land’, trees grew denser and not far off, a light grey gleam could be seen. The building. Now, they slowed their pace. Voort started moving to one side, and Akan found himself moving to the other. Jen, not completely sure what she should do, followed Voort(who was closer). As they approached, they saw the building was in fact just a large opening in the ground. There was a central door large enough for a landspeeder, though that made Akan wonder how anyone could get use from a speeder in this environment.     After they stood without moving for a while, watching to see if there were any defenses, Voort moved. He started towards the door almost casually. Now, he did have a blaster in hand, but it was the way he walked. Jen looked over to Akan, who shrugged and followed. Jen caught up, giving them both a somewhat lost look, though she said nothing. When Voort got to the door, he simply hit the switch. It opened. Somehow, this didn’t surprise Akan. Why lock anything on a planet like this? It wasn’t on many charts anyway.    Carefully, Akan followed Voort into the dimly lit corridor. It was a stairwell. Long and very steep. Akan made a comment about watching where you step as Jen stepped in and closed the door. A good distance down, they could see the floor evened out. Voort and Akan simply headed down, as there was no other way to go. When they got to the even floor, they discovered that two halls went left and right, but the stairwell also continued down. Voort had started to go down, but Akan caught the Imperial’s shoulder, “Wait.”    Something was...there. No. Left? Yes. What? Alive. Dim though...Sadrak? Maybe. But...    [Akan...?] the ‘voice’ in his mind was low and weak sounding. It confirmed where his thoughts were leading to. Shadow.    [Where are you?] Akan asked, feeling it out anyway. Left corridor. The link was not as strong as it had been before, but it was there. Without a word to the others, Akan took his lightsaber in hand and moved quickly to the left. Voort had started to say something, but Akan didn’t hear it. He also heard no response from Shadow. That was worrying.     Akan followed the corridor a for a while, then found that it went two directions. Still empty though. Trying to feel for Shadow, his thoughts were interrupted by Voort, “Sadrak knows we’re here.”    “What do you mean?” Jen asked, sounding worried.    “Your young friend here is leading us to a trap,” commented Voort a little too loudly as Akan started to the right this time, following his instincts. Yes, it probably was a trap, but did it matter? Nope. He was going to get Shadow out and leave. Part of him knew he should deal with Sadrak...but, Voort wanted to do that. Akan wasn’t about to stop him. It’d get the Imperial out of his hair.    Rounding one more corner, Akan found himself in a large room. The walls were a slate grey, and there was a large amount of equipment scattered across tables and desktops. On the far side, the room turned into more of a lab, with containers, sealed objects, and equipment that Jen probably recognized. Then, Akan’s eyes saw Shadow. In the far corner, on the floor with something covering her face. He could see her ears out of the metallic looking ‘hood’, but noticed she wasn’t moving at all. Nothing was holding her down. But also, no one else was there. Akan didn’t like that.    He stepped towards her, and Voort growled something about him being a fool. Akan ignored him, going to Shadow anyway. Jen was following closely, but her attention was on the equipment. Much of it was similar to what she’d worked with on Endor. That worried her. Most of the things on Endor were simply theoretical, but this looked like someone was actually toying with living creatures. She couldn’t help but shudder at the thought.     Voort had stayed back. This was obviously an elaborate set up. Sadrak had known that this...boy would come for his friend. But had he expected Voort to follow? He wouldn’t put it past Sadrak. This was a moment that required caution and checking for any kind of trap. But the boy simply walked over to the figure on the other side of the room like nothing was wrong at all. He was going to get them all killed. Voort could tell the boy was idealistic. That was most likely the root of the problem. For some reason, most people thought that being idealistic meant you didn’t have to use your brain at all.    When Akan made it over to Shadow, he knelt in front of her and noticed she seemed to be in a strange coma-like state. Breathing...slowly. Heartbeat...wait...he put his head to her chest and listened. Two heartbeats. Hmmm..For the first time, Akan put his hand over his own chest. Two heartbeats. Okay. Two hearts. So maybe that was normal. How had he missed that?! Not important right now. Akan took a closer look at the ‘hood’ of sorts over Shadow. It covered her mouth, nose, and eyes effectively, but curved around her head to leave room for her ears. He knew it was dangerous to attempt without really checking, but Akan carefully removed the hood from her head.     Nothing happened once it was off. No explosion like he’d for some reason expected. What he did notice was that Shadow had a long scar across her face. It hadn’t been there last he knew...Carefully, he shook her, “Shady. Wake up.”    Her eyes did open slowly, two silver circles watching him carefully. Her ears moved, and her mouth opened. Nothing came out. She closed her eyes, mentally focused, and tried again. But she didn’t get a chance, as a voice from behind all of them laughed, “Ahhh, so easy to predict.”    Akan, Jen and Voort all turned around to see a man wearing all black(Akan wondered when evil people would get with the times and get away from such a cliche). He had a hood pulled back from a heavy robe, and looked to be near human. Two deep, cruel red eyes watched them from a disturbingly young face. It had to be Sadrak, but usually those devoted to the Dark Side saw their bodies ravaged...this man, though. He was young looking, and attractive. No in any way what one would expect from an Imperial Inquisitor. Sadrak smiled and opened his arms, “An amazing development here, Titus! Our little pet has made herself a friend!”    Akan couldn’t help a low growl that escaped him as he watched the man. Shadow was still only barely aware of things around her, and he was doing his best to hold her up straight. Jen had stepped back and gotten slightly in front of both Akan and Shadow. She had her blaster up and Akan found it interesting that she was actually taking on a very protective role suddenly. Voort had a hand on his lightsaber, and watched Sadrak with a careful eye. At Sadrak’s words, he turned and looked to the Alraxian that Akan had unmasked. She looked so similar to Alrax...but, no. She was different. Her hair was too short. Her body that of a child’s...the scar.    Then, realization dawned on him, though he didn’t speak it. Instead, he focused on what had been said about this Akan, “What are you talking about?”    Again, Sadrak laughed, “Oh, yes, I forgot! You were locked up by the time we’d learned of that little trick! The animals have another interesting trait...they can make a body out of their own for another. Did you actually think that another of those animals came looking for her?!”    Something was still wrong. Voort could feel Sadrak probing through his mnd(as could the others), but he couldn’t feel Sadrak. It was like...he wasn’t there. Voort pulled out his blaster, then fired a shot. It went through the former Inquisitor. Hologram? No...there would need to be a projector.    Another long laugh from Sadrak’s image, “You think I’m that stupid, Titus? Oh, no, I’m no where near that dreadful planet. Do you think you could bring that animal to me? I did not have time to finish the tests before I learned of your approach.”    Again, Akan growled, louder and more threatening. Honestly, he didn’t know where it was coming from. It kind of just happened.  Sadrak’s eyes fell on him, “How does it feel to be an animal, boy? It is so good to know there are two of you now. We really must meet. You don’t want her to get too far ahead of you, now do you?” he smiled again, and then looked over all of them, “I am sorry, but I must go. Pressing matters, you understand, Titus. But don’t worry, you didn’t travel all the way out there for nothing. I did leave some toys for you! I do hope we are able to meet boy, and please, if you survive, bring Three with you! She just has a few more things left!”    Three? Who...? Shadow. Three, though? The image of Sadrak faded, and when Voort turned and looked around the walls for weapons or explosives or anything...he found nothing. Akan started to his feet, and Shadow, who was waking up some, said nothing as she regained her own balance and remembered all that was going on. She was going to say something when Jen turned towards the hallway, “I hear footsteps.”    “Loud ones...” Akan commented, hearing the approached of many heavy footsteps.    “We need to get out of here,” Titus said, starting towards the hallway, “We can figure out what’s going on after we’re gone.”    We. We. Again with the ‘we’. Of course, Akan was thinking it too. The business with Sadrak was still not over...so whatever had to be done about Voort would have to wait. Too many unanswered questions. When he looked to Shadow, she nodded towards the hallway. [Thanks for coming...but lets try to survive this before I ask you what’s going on, okay?]    Akan nodded, as he, Jen, and Shadow came up next to Voort. The footsteps were nearing as they also approached the corner. Not boots. Too heavy. Stormtroopers? No. Then what? Whatever it was, it was no friendly. Akan had his lightsaber drawn and activated, blue green blade ready in front of them as the steps got closer. Voort had followed suit, holding his own orange blade out. Jen was behind them with her blaster pistol. Shadow had mentally composed herself, and was ready to pounce. After that hood being on her head, she was ready to maul something. And that something was about to be in front of her.</blockquote>

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